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A Review: Saccharin Discovery, Synthesis, and Applications: Ibn Al Haitham Journal For Pure and Applied Science
A Review: Saccharin Discovery, Synthesis, and Applications: Ibn Al Haitham Journal For Pure and Applied Science
33 (2) 2020
Abstract
Saccharin is firstly synthesized in 1879. It is a very well-known as an inexpensive
substitute for sugar as it is a non-caloric sweetener. The article shows the properties, use,
metabolism and various synthesis and reactions of saccharine. Moreover, the toxicological
reports explain that saccharin is mostly responsible for the bladder tumors observed in the
male rats, the relationship between the consumption of saccharin and bladder cancer is
afforded by epidemiological studies. The benefit-risk evaluation for saccharin is hardly to
indicate. Saccharin is a sugar substitute, frequently used either in food industry, or in
pharmaceutical formulations and even in tobacco products. The chemistry of saccharin is
interesting because of it suspected carcinogenous character and the possible use as an antidote
for metal poisoning. It appears prudent to evaluate their main properties and applications
further.
1. Introduction
1.1. Saccharin
Saccharin is an artificial sweetener with no food energy. It is chemically identified as o-
sulfabenzamide (2,3-dihydro-3-oxobenzisosulfonazole). It is about 400 times as sweet as
sucrose. It is a sulphonamide derivative of toluene, existing as acid saccharin, sodium
saccharin and calcium saccharin [1]. Saccharin is a week organic acid, slightly soluble in
water, with a pKa of 1.6 and chemical formula C7H5NO3S. It has a molar mass of 183.2 g/mol
and a specific gravity of 0.83 g/cm3[2]. Sodium saccharin has high solubility in water and
because of its ease production, it is the most generally used salt. Also, calcium saccharin is
used in different food applications. It is remarkable to know that there is no relation between
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saccharin form and its sweetness intensity. Saccharin and its salts are stable in a solid form,
while in solution it is high hydrolytic thermal, and photo stability. Stability is not affected by
pH and temperatures, usually encountered in food and beverage manufacturing, contain table-
top sweeteners, yogurt, desserts, ice-cream, baked goods, jam, preserves, marmalade, soft
drinks, sweets, mustard and sauces, saccharin can be used in cooking, baking and canning due
to its stability, The acceptable levels of use differ from a hundred to five hundred mg/kg,
based on the food category [3].
Saccharin is decomposed when heated to 380 °C, and all three forms of saccharin emit toxic
fumes of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. During a typical food process, saccharin does not
decompose; however, some hydrolysis happens after prolonged exposure to excessive
conditions pH or temperature when the pH is less than 2.0 and at particularly high
temperatures. The hydrolytic decomposed products of saccharin are (2-sulfobenzoic acid and
2-sulfamoyl benzoic acid). Neither of these compounds displays a sweetener taste [4].
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6
1.3.2. Sodium saccharin
IUPAC Name: 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one, 1,1-dioxide, sodium salt [7].
6a
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Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. 33 (2) 2020
1.3.3. Calcium Saccharin
IUPAC Name: 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one, 1,1-dioxide, calcium salt [7].
6b
IUPAC 2-benzothiazol-1,1,3-trione
Other name Benzoic sulfimide
Chemical formula C7H5NO3S
Appearance White cristalline solid
Molar mass 182,999014 g/mol
Density ³ 0,828 g/cm³
Melting Point (228,8-229,7)°C
Solubility in water 3,448 g/L
Solubility in ethanol 32,258 g/L
Solubility in acetone 83,333 g/L
Solubility in glycerol 20 g/L
Uv (vis) Spectroscopy maximum 267,3 nm
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1.7 Ingestion
Saccharin, when ingested, actually goes through the human GIT without being digested. The
experimental models revealed that the saccharin is not absorbed or metabolized [16 ̶ 18]. It is
excreted and unmoved via the kidneys. Saccharin has zero energy. It was banned in the
United States by the US FDA. It can stimulate the release of insulin in humans. It was only
artificial sweetener presented in the rats because of its taste [19].
1.8. Absorption
Saccharin's absorption depends on different factors including the pKa and the pH values of
the animal. The absorption of saccharin occurs with a pKa of about 2.0- 2.2. The unionized
species found in acidic media which is completely absorbed form in many of animal species.
While, in the stomach of the rabbit and guinea-pig, saccharin is absorbed completely when the
pH come to 1.9 and 1.4, respectively. as it is compared to the stomach of rat, the pH equal to
4.2. The pH of the stomach and extent of absorption in monkeys and man are in-between
those of the rabbit and guinea-pig on one side, and the rat on the other. The extent of
saccharin absorption depends mainly on food intake that affects the acidity of the stomach
contents [20].
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Table 2. Shows the Carcinogenicity of saccharin happening in animals’ models.
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comet assay
Bandyopadhyay et al.
Salmonella typhimurium Ames -
[37]
Bandyopadhyay et al.
Swiss albino mice Comet assay +
[37]
Fish sperm DNA DNA binding affinity +/- Icsel and Yılmaz [38]
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598 cases and 1491 controls Oral cavity and pharynx - Francheschi et al. [44]
2569 cases and 2588 controls Female breast - Tavani et al. [48]
767 cases and 1534 controls Renal cell - Bravi et al. [50]
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Reagents and conditions: (i) CH2(CN)2, Ethyl alcohol, Sod. acetate; (ii) XCH2Y, Ethyl alcohol,
Et3N; (iii) 2CH2(CN)2, EtOH, Et3N; (iv) H2NCXNH2, Sod.ethoxide.
The reaction of saccharin and tryptophan occurred readily at room temperature in aqueous
solution to produce a compound separated at pH 5.5 in a 1:1 ratio as shown in Scheme 4.
[56].
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2-(Pyridine-4-yldiazonium) isoindoline-1-one-3-sulphoxide (22) resulted from the coupling
reaction of 4-(chloridediazeayl) pyridine (21) with sodium saccharin(6a) in DMF, Scheme 5.
[57].
Scheme 6. Synthesis of phenol sulfonephthalein from saccharin and phenol: (a) conc. H2SO4 = oleum, 140 °C, 3
h; (b) phenol, conc. H2SO4, 140 °C, 3 h.
A new Schiff base was produced by the reaction of the transition metal complexes of Cobalt
(II), Nickel (II), Copper (II), Zinc (II) and Cadmium(II) with (3E)-3-{(2E)-[(3-hydroxy-6-
methyl-3, 4,6,8atetrahydroquinoxalin-2-yl) methylidene ]hydrazinylidene}-3H-1,2-
benziothiazol-2-ide1,1-dioxide were prepared, as shown in Scheme 7. [59].
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Schiff bases (30, 31 and33) can be synthesized by reaction of a compound (29) with
NH2NH2.H2O, and glacial acetic acid. Compound (34) has been produced by a reaction of a
compound (29) with phenyl isothiocyanate by using triethylamine as catalyst. Finally,
compound (32) can be obtained by the reaction of a compound (29) with NH2NH2.H2O in the
presence of NaOAc or, NaOH, as shown in the Scheme 8. [60].
The reaction of saccharin with ethylene diamine in presence few drops glacial acetic acid,
produced compound (35). Acetylation of compound (36) produced a compound (39).
Reaction of compound (35) with ethyl acetoacetate afforded pyrazole, and pyranopyrazole
derivatives (37, 38), respectively, as shown in Scheme 9.
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Scheme 9. Synthesis of saccharin derivatives (36-39) by reaction of saccharin with different reagents.
Also, the reaction of sodium saccharin with halo compounds afforded some of N-alkyl
saccharin derivatives (40-47). Condensation of ethylene diamine with compounds (40,44) in
presence few drops glacial acetic acid (GAA) produced compounds (48,49) as shown in
Scheme 10. [61]
Scheme10. Synthesis of N-alkyl saccharin derivatives (40-49) by reaction of sodium saccharin with halo
compounds.
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1.13.1. Photo isomerization of Saccharin
Regarding the photochemistry of benzisothiazoles, a literature survey reveals that the
information available is restricted to photolysis in solution. Previous work on the
photochemistry of N-propylsaccharin (2, 3) confirmed that photolysis led to cleavage of the
S−N bond, eventually leading to the formation of benzamide through extrusion of SO2, as
shown in Scheme 11.
Saccharyl system photo isomerization implies photo induced hemolysis of the S−N bond,
then a delocalized bi radical is produced in the amide moiety, upon rotation around the
exocyclic C−C bond, furnished the iso-saccharin through ring closure, as shown in Scheme
13. [62].
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2. Conclusion
Saccharin safety has been reviewed and certified by the Joint Expert Committee on Food
Additives (JECFA) of the World Health Organization and the Scientific Committee for Food
of the European Union. Saccharin is permitted in many hundred countries around the world. It
can be advocated as one of the very best choices for diabetic person and those dieting. The
use of saccharin as it is free of calorie, safe and brings a well physical shape lifestyle state.
While accumulation and the hazard of obesity within its related cardiovascular aggravations
literature reports on genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of saccharine is still confusing.
Therefore, persons should be careful to the consumption of this artificial sweetener.
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